Prayers for Your Strong-Willed TeenSample

When You Don't Know What to Do--PRAY!

In my experience, it's a bit of an oxymoron to call teens strong-willed. As a mama of four, I sometimes wonder what I was thinking when we decided to have this many potential teens. We now have one adult child, two teens, and a tween, and without prayer, someone may have been voted off the island in this season called Teenager.

We no longer speak the same language, sometimes we disagree, and they would like much more freedom than we want to give. What's a parent to do?

PRAY!

My prayers used to be, Change them, Lord! Now, my prayer as a parent is, Make me the parent they need me to be in this season.

Through our prayers, we have access to the most incredible, wise parent there ever was--our heavenly Father. He knows both us and our teens better than we know ourselves. We can trust God with our teens because He has given us everything through His firstborn Son, Jesus.

When you've reached the end of your rope, when you don't know what to do, when they have pushed all your buttons and you think to yourself, I understand why some species eat their young, it's time to take it to the Lord.

He has all the answers, wisdom, and perfect purposes for you and your teen. He knows the outcome of every situation. No matter how tangled the relationship or what the circumstances look like, God has a way through those tough teen years.

PRAYER: Father God, create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit in me so that I become the parent I need to be for my teens (Psalm 51:10). You promise that you will bring your good work in me and them to completion (Philippians 1:6), and I know you are faithful to keep your promises. Help me become more like you every day, so that my teens see your light in me. In Jesus' name, amen.